Five Most Thrilling Coasters

Kara Killen, March 2, 2018

3 minute read

I love the idea of whipping around hairpin turns and incline loops. Rotating 360 degrees in the grips of lateral g force acceleration. My hair spinning wildly around my head, my face stretching into a joyous grimace that would make the Joker proud. And, of course, that awesome drop in the pit of my stomach that makes me wonder, momentarily, if I'll burst into laughter or tears. Or both simultaneously. So love 'em or hate 'em, here is the list of the 5 most thrilling roller coasters in the Orlando area.

Mako (SeaWorld Orlando)

Named for one of the ocean's fastest sharks, Mako is the tallest, fastest, and longest roller coaster in Orlando. A full-throttle ride, Mako has several tall peaks, vertical drops and extremely high speeds. This hypercoaster is the perfect mix of fear and fun. May help you get over your phobia of coasters and sharks. Or induce it. Height restriction: 54" (137cm)

Kraken (SeaWorld Orlando)

Last year, SeaWorld added a virtual reality overlay to this popular ride and renamed it "Kraken Unleashed." Today, that feature no longer exists but this floorless coaster provides a big bang for your buck as it leaves you exposed to navigate 4000 feet of twisted track. Dropping 144 feet, Kraken reaches 65 mph and includes diabolical inversions. This is a ( sea) monster of a ride. Height restriction: 54" (137cm)

Hulk (Universal's Islands of Adventure)

This all-time fave has you catapulted out with the force of a fighter jet. Hulk-like power propels you upside down into a weightless zero-g roll and races fast down the track. It could actually turn you Hulk green, so hang on as this high-speed, red-line rampage smashes its way through the sky. The epic ride. Height restriction: 54" (137cm)

The Rock 'n' Roller Coaster (Disney's Hollywood Studios)

Music fan? This one's for you. While you wait in line, you'll be immersed in a story about classic rock band Aerosmith and listen to their hits during your ride in a virtual stretch limo on the way to their concert. This coaster has three inversions, goes from 0 to 57 mph (0 to 92 km/h) in 2.8 seconds, and lasts almost a minute and a half. Keep your eyes open because you won't want to miss a thing. Height restriction: 48" (122cm)

Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit (Universal Studios Florida)

Also music-themed, this is the tallest ride at Universal Studios Florida. Choose a song and, as the music starts, you are lifted seven stories above the park before the adrenaline-pumping ride begins. This thriller offers the world's first non-inverting loop and audio/visual effects as you speed through a minute and 37 seconds of excitement. At the end of the journey, you get to watch your entire experience back on video and even take it home. Note: this coaster has been described as "at times, brutal" so it's not for everyone. Height restriction: 51" (130cm)